Attack on Tan Son Nhut Air Base

The Attack on Tan Son Nhut Air Base occurred on 31 January 1968 during the Tet Offensive of the Vietnam War.

During the Battle of Saigon, the Viet Cong and NVA targeted the MACV headquarters at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, nicknamed "Pentagon East". At the time, none of the top American commanders were at the base, whose runways were cratered by mortar and artillery fire. The Viet Cong then advanced into the base, but the US and ARVN troops repelled them with heavy losses. The Viet Cong had been expecting the arrival of trucks to take them into Saigon, but the trucks never came, and they were instead pinned down and annihilated. After the attack, the defenses of the airbase were improved by the US military to protect it against further attacks.